*If you don't know already...the AFL-CIO has been hijacked by 'open-border' advocates. They're making the huggest bet ever, because if you know anything, you know that the unions are the backbone of the democratic party...and being I from a 'union' family I see the actually anger that policies like this are creating. The dems and their unions are making a huge bet on this. Truth is unions are dying, because labor is going to be obselete in the near future...mostly due to automation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060809/ap/d8jd3p2g0.html The nation's largest federation of unions agreed Wednesday to work with a network of immigrant day laborers to improve wages and working conditions for those who solicit work from street corners across America. The agreement between the AFL-CIO and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, formally adopted in Chicago, is a sign of day laborers' growing role in the U.S. economy. Experts also said it reflects the need for unions to expand to regain clout. The agreement does not clear the way for day laborers to become union members, but both sides said it could be a step in that direction. The agreement calls for the network's 40 nationwide centers to affiliate with the federation and receive representation on local labor councils. Under the plan, the AFL-CIO and network will pursue minimum wage campaigns, safety at construction sites and legislation to criminalize employers who stiff day laborers. The groups will also work toward reform that includes amnesty for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. "This is huge for day laborers," said Abel Valenzuela, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles and co-author of the first national study of day laborers released in January. "The AFL-CIO can hire staff to help with organizing, provide more legal services and lobby on behalf of day laborers," he said. Among other things, the study found that an average of 117,000 day laborers seek work each day, with the top employers being homeowners. The agreement came as day laborers, a majority of whom are Hispanic and undocumented, take steps to become more organized. At a large center in downtown Los Angeles, day laborers said they hoped the agreement would lead to unionization. The center has set the minimum hourly pay for its workers at $8. Skilled workers command up to $15 an hour. "We've all had employers not pay us, and seen workers hurt at jobs," said Francisco Jimenez, 35, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. For years, unions have experienced diminishing numbers and clout because of globalization, automation and the transition from an industrial-based economy to one that is service-driven. Some members see undocumented workers as a vast untapped pool of potential new members. Others, however, think they drag down wages and thwart organizing efforts. Unions were often at odds while Congress debated immigration reform earlier this year, with some groups arguing against guest worker programs and amnesty for illegal immigrants. The dissension was evident last year when a handful of unions, including the Service Employees International Union, broke from the AFL-CIO in an effort to forge a new direction for organized labor. The breakaway unions complained that the AFL-CIO focused too much on electoral politics and not enough on organizing more people, including immigrant workers. "The agreement is a strategic move for the AFL-CIO," Valenzuela said. "They are thinking about how to maintain and increase their ranks." The day labor network also has much to gain. Originally a ragtag group of centers in 2001, the network is emerging as a powerful force for organizing day laborers. Its 40 member sites are used by thousands of workers each day. Among other things, the sites provide English classes and workshops on labor rights. All laborers and employers are registered in data bases, and workers often vote on center decisions involving wages and operations. Day laborers have also become a target of anti-illegal immigration groups who have staged protests at day labor sites, told immigration officials about employers who hire illegals, and sued cities that build day labor centers. "We need as many alliances as we can to fight back," said Pablo Alvarado, director of the day labor network. Whether the agreement leads to full unionization will depend on how aggressively the AFL-CIO focuses on day labor issues, and how day laborers respond to organization efforts, said Janice Fine, a labor professor at Rutgers University. "A union could feel like, 'great, it's just more mouths to feed,'" if that mutual relationship doesn't develop, Fine said. Day laborers in Los Angeles said their interest will depend on whether unions help them get full-time jobs and become legal residents. Cesar Ramirez, 48, an illegal immigrant, said he had been part of a plumbers union in Mexico and would like to join one in this country for health benefits and work protection. "But without (residency) papers I don't see it happening," he said.
You know im a union man myself. But the reason why unions are dying are because there is such a large number of illegals here willing to work for low wages. If they want better wages and benefits first of all learn the language,second of all become a legal resident, and third take a proficiency test to see if they have the knowledge to paid the wages that union men make. Im not against anyone looking for a better way of life, what im against is that some want everything handed to them because they think we owe them this. Go through the proper channels and take action to change your life the right way, as long as they hide as illegals there will always be someone to take advantage of them, thats capitalism at its finest. My .02 cents Health and Prosperity, Rome
I heard it's something like a third of construction jobs are done with illegals. So yeah, I'm assuming that's part of it. I agree. I guess that's a way of looking at it. Capitalism without borders is dangerous in my opinion. There's no way an average person can work in labor, if millions upon millions continuely come in and depress wages (thus a permanent underclass). *shrug* Isn't that what Ceasar Chavez was against? The seem to promote him as for illegal immigration now-a-days, and he clearly wasn't. He was for the average worker.... Note: I actually lean-right, but I respect unions in ways...some more than others.